"Pay More Taxes": Protesters Oppose Jeff Bezos-Lauren Sánchez Wedding In Venice

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and his journalist fiancée, Lauren Sánchez, were preparing to get married in Venice's Scuola Grande della Misericordia, a majestic 16th-century building in the city centre. However, their wedding plans recently faced disruption when a large group of protestors gathered near the celebration site, voicing concerns that the event would turn the scenic city into a "private amusement park for the rich," according to Reuters.

The protests called 'No Space for Bezos' were organised by the international environmental group Greenpeace. Campaigners unfurled a giant banner at St. Mark's Square, reading, "If you can rent Venice for your wedding, you can pay more taxes." Many also took to social media to accuse Bezos of "poverty wages" for his staff and "tax dodging." 

The tech mogul's wedding venue has now been shifted to Arsenale, a 14th-century complex of shipyards surrounded by fortified walls that will be much harder for the protesters to penetrate.

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According to some reports, the venue was also switched due to security concerns after the US joined the Israel-Iran conflict, especially because US President Donald Trump’s daughter, Ivanka, arrived in Venice for the wedding.

The Bezos-Sánchez wedding is expected to have over 200 high-profile guests like Leonardo DiCaprio, Oprah Winfrey, Kris Jenner, Salma Hayek Pinault, Barbra Streisand, Miranda Kerr, and Suki Waterhouse, among others.

Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez relationship

Bezos and Sánchez are getting married nearly two years after their engagement. They started dating in 2018 and made their relationship public in July 2019, shortly after Bezos finalised his divorce from MacKenzie Scott.

In May 2023, Bezos proposed to Sánchez on his $500 million superyacht, Koru, off the Italian coast. The following day, Sánchez was seen wearing a dazzling engagement ring reportedly worth $2.5 million. Their engagement party in August 2023 was attended by high-profile personalities, including Bill Gates and his girlfriend, Paula Hurd.

Who is Lauren Sánchez?

Lauren Sánchez, 55, is a former journalist and news anchor born in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in 1969. She worked as an entertainment reporter and co-hosted Good Day LA from 2011 to 2017. Sánchez has also appeared in films such as The Longest Yard, Flight Club, and Ted 2. Additionally, she is a licensed helicopter pilot.

In 2016, she launched Black Ops Aviation, the first female-owned aerial production company of its kind. Currently, she serves as the Vice Chair of the Bezos Earth Fund, working on environmental initiatives.

Sánchez was part of the "historic" Blue Origin all-female space flight in April 2025. She took part in the 11th manned New Shepard mission alongside musician Katy Perry,  former NASA scientist Aisha Bowe, TV presenter Gayle King, film producer Kerianne Flynn, and civil rights activist Amanda Nguyen.

Before her relationship with Bezos, Sánchez was married to Hollywood agent Patrick Whitesell, with whom she shares two children, Ella and Evan. She also has a son, Nikko, from her previous relationship with former NFL player Tony Gonzalez.